Thermal Aspects in Edge Trimming of Bio-Filled GFRP: Influence of Fiber Orientation and Silica Sand Filler in Heat Generation.

The present work aims to determine the influence of Glass Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (GFRP) laminating configuration in heat generation during the dry edge trimming process. Temperature measurement experiments were conducted on pure epoxy matrix, 15% unidirectional glass fiber reinforced epoxy, and 28% silica sand-filled GFRP specimens through eight type-K thermocouples evenly distributed along the trim plans and connected to a data acquisition system. Infrared thermographic measurements were also conducted to investigate the tool temperature evolution while processing. It was found that perpendicular fiber edge milling induces a sharp increase with peak temperature measurements reaching 119 °C, while machining parallel to fiber leads to a maximum temperature history of 41 °C, which is very close to that obtained from the pure epoxy test. It was also found that the addition of silica sand grains in the GFRP matrix reduces both tool and specimen temperature magnitudes up to 67% for 90° plies and 14% for 0° plies compared to silica sand-free composite initial values. The heat partition was calculated from the measured (electric) and estimated energies for the tool, the workpiece, and chips, respectively. It appears from predictions that the addition of silica sand grains increases the heat conductivity of the GFRP materials (with rates of 20% for 0° fiber orientation and 10% for 90° fiber direction), while it reduces that conducted to the milling tool. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) inspections helped detect the dominating machining defects relative to each GFRP configuration and explained the heat generation and dissipation effects in light of peak temperature measurements.

Heat Analysis of Thermal Conductive Polymer Composites: Reference Temperature History in Pure Polymer Matrices.

This attempt aims at assessing heat generation in thermal conductive polymer (TCP) composites widely used in aerospace sectors. Temperature histories were investigated in both nonreinforced and glass-fiber-reinforced TCPs during abrasive milling. Glass/epoxy and glass/polyester composites with 30% unidirectional glass fiber content were prepared according to appropriate curing cycles. Type K thermocouples connected to a data acquisition system ensured the recording of temperature history along the trim plan during milling. Unexpectedly, when milling TCP composites parallel to fibers, peak temperature was found to be slightly lower than that recorded in nonreinforced polymers. The lateral surface of fibers acts to favor sliding friction, which limits heat generation at interfaces, while relatively low specific heat capacity and thermal conductivity of glass fiber disadvantage heat transfer. However, when milling perpendicular to fibers, the contact area between the tool and the transverse failure area of fibers increases drastically, hence involving severe friction at interfaces. This yields peak temperatures sensitively higher than those obtained in nonreinforced polymers. SEM inspections highlighted the failure modes dominating the material removal process in both nonreinforced and glass-fiber-reinforced polymers. The microcracks and debris observed at the trim plan explain, in part, the heat generation detected on temperature rate plots. Thus, heat conduction between phases governs sensitive surface finish integrity and tool lifetime and, hence, has great economic impact on the manufacturing steps.

[Alimentary factors predisposing to colorectal cancer risk: a prospective epidemiologic study]. / Les facteurs alimentaires prédisposant au risque de cancers colorectaux: etude epidémiologique prospective.

BACKGROUND: Some foods are incriminated in the genesis of colorectal cancers (CRC), on the other hand, other foods are considered as protectors. AIM: This study aimed to determine the alimentary factors influencing the risk of CRC. METHODS: We conducted an epidemiologic prospective study. We performed firstly a descriptive analysis of the CRC group (32 patients) and we compared this group to a control group of 61 patients subdivided into two subgroups [Non tumoral digestive disease (31 patients) and a subgroup of trauma patients (30 patients)]. Factors, retained by the univariate analysis were introduced into a logistic regression model which identified the independent factors influencing the risk of CRC. RESULTS: Univariate analysis identified 12 factors influencing the risk of CRC with p < or = 0.05: age, sex, geographical origin, anemia, addiction to smoking, sport activity, walk, processed meat, milk, fruits, oil and frying. The multivariate analysis identified three factors: age 40/60 years (OR: 5.15), processed meat consumption; frequent/rare (OR: 5.1), milk consumption rare/frequent (OR: 7.07). CONCLUSION: For young people, a frequent consumption of processed meat increases the risk of CRC. However the frequent consumption of milk protects against CRC. We recommend to young people consumption of milk and avoiding frequent consumption of processed meat.

Pancreatic pseudocysts located in the liver: a systematic review of the literature.

BACKGROUND: Pancreatic pseudocysts (PC) are a common complication of both acute and chronic pancreatitis. Most pancreatic pseudocysts are located within the head and the body of the pancreas, but 20% of them are extrapancreatic (pleura, mediastinum, pelvis and spleen). The location of a pseudocyst in the liver is an exceptional event, only thirty three cases are reported in the literature. AIM: This article aimed to report a new case of PC located in the liver combined with a systematic review of reported cases published in peer-reviewed journals. METHODS: A new case of PC located in the liver was reported. An extensive electronic search of the relevant literature since 1990 was carried out using Medline. We retained only the articles reporting one or several cases. When the article was unavailable, we considered the relevant abstracts which should report clinical patterns and therapeutic modalities. Reviews of the literature, systematic reviews, letters to editors and incomplete abstracts were excluded. A descriptive analysis of the collected sample including our case was performed. Morphological, therapeutic and outcome variables were reported. RESULTS: The analysis of 22 cases reported in the literature and our observation provided the following data: 17 men and 6 women with a mean age of 51 +/- 3.2 years. Seventeen patients presented an acute pancreatitis, complicating a chronic pancreatitis in seven cases, alcoholic in six cases, biliary in three cases and traumatic in one case. Six patients presented a chronic pancreatitis. The PC was located in the left lobe of the liver in 12 cases, in the right lobe in 6 cases and interested the two lobes in 5 cases. The lesion was unique in 8 patients and multiple in 15 patients. Fifteen patients were treated by Ultrasound or CT guided percutaneous drainage. Four patients were managed surgically. Three patients had no specific treatment. One patient was successfully treated by endoscopic transpapillary drainage. The evolution was favourable for all patients except in three patients who died. CONCLUSIONS: Pancreatic pseudocyst located in the liver is an exceptional event, commonly following acute pancreatitis, rising in older male, involving the left lobe of the liver and treated by percutaneous drainage.

Squamous cell carcinoma arising in Verneuil's disease.

BACKGROUND: Verneuil's disease or hidradenitis suppurativa is a chronic suppurative, and cicatricial inflammatory disease, mainly affecting apocrine-bearing area of the skin. Squamous cell carcinoma is an uncommon but a frightening complication of hidradenitis suppurativa. AIM: To report a new case of squamous cell carcinoma arising in Verneuil's disease. CASE REPORT: We reported a case of 60 year old man with a 30 years history of hidradenitis suppurativa in which squamous cell carcinoma arise. A wide surgical excision removing the tumour and leaving a large defect was performed. The patient had a well recovery, wounds healed well by primary intention. No recurrence observed at 18 months of follow up. CONCLUSION: Squamous cell carcinoma is an uncommon complication of hidradenitis suppurativa. Surgical excision represents also the treatment of choice.

[Myofibroblastic tumor of the great omentum]. / Tumeur inflammatoire myofibroblastique du grand épiploon.

BACKGROUND: Myofibroblastic tumors are a spindle cell lesion of indeterminate malignant potential. Abdominal location was rare. AIM: We report a case of an unusual location of myofibroblastic tumors in the great omuntum. CASE REPORT: A 63-year-old women presented with a one year of isolated left hypochondrium pain. Physical examination was normal. CT scan of the abdomen showed a multicystic and a multilocular building-up of the great omentum suggestive of a peritoneal haemolymphagioma. Besides, at the MRI, this lesion showed up with threefold component: cystic, plump and fibrous, all leading towards a myofibroblastic tumor. At laparotomy, there was already a 10 cm diameter cystic tumor of the great omentum, composed of numerous cystic sockets, all filled with a thick brunish substance. A total resection of the great omentum was done, thus taking away the whole tumor. The histological examination confirms the diagnosis of myofibroblastic tumor of great omentum.. Post operative evolution was uneventful. One year later there were no signs of recurrence. CONCLUSION: Myofibroblastic tumors of the great omentum are rare. The diagnosis is often confirmed by careful microscopic examination or immunohistochemical markers. Treatment consists on a complete surgical resection and life-time follow-up is needed because the risk of recurrence.

[Predictive factors of morbidity and mortality after surgery in the elderly]. / Facteurs prédictifs de morbidité et de mortalité de la chirurgie du vieillard.

UNLABELLED: The aim of the study was to determine prognostic factors of post operative morbidity and mortality for patients aged 80 years and older. We compared two groups of patients aged 80 and over operated to determine predictive factors of morbidity and mortality: group of patients who presented post operative complication within 30 days after surgery and group of patients without any complication. Comparison of the two groups for global morbidity using univariate analysis showed only one prognostic factor: surgery of diabetic foot (p = 0.034). Predictive factors of mortality according to univariate analysis were: pre-operative shock (p = 0.001), abdominal wall pathology (p = 0.027), gastric or duodenal ulcer diseases (p = 0.011) and global morbidity (p = 0.006). After logistic regression, only pre-operative shock was an independent predictive factor of mortality (p = 0.0023). CONCLUSION: Risk for morbidity after surgery in the elderly 80 years and over is linked with type of surgery and not with soil. Likewise, risk for mortality is linked with advanced stage of disease that is presence of pre-operative shock and not with soil.

[Acute pancreatitis due to lupus]. / La pancréatite aiguë lupique.

Among digestive clinical presentations of systemic lupus erythematosus, acute pancreatitis remains a serious affection with very poor prognosis. To date, pathogenesis is still unclear. We report two cases of fatal acute pancreatitis related to systemic lupus erythematosus.

Neuroendocrine tumours of the digestive tract report of two cases and literature review.

Neuroendocrine tumors (NET) of the digestive system are rare. They comprise only 1% of all the tumors of the gastrointestinal tract. The aim of this study is to report two cases of exceptional localization of non secretary neuroendocrine tumors. Their difficulty in diagnosis, treatment and controversy in chemotherapy merit their study in depth. These are two patients that were treated in the department of general surgery (Beau Séjour) in Charles Nicolle Hospital for non secretary (NET) of the pancreas and stomach. The first was presented as a painless epigastria mass with frequent diarrhea. The second was presented as a painful mass in the left hypochondriac area without any other symptoms. Biochemical evaluation confirmed their non secretary properties. Surgery remains the first line of treatment. It was possible for the gastric, but not for the pancreatic tumor. Both were very advanced and had metastasis. Histopathological evaluation and immunohistochemical study using the method of peroxydase antiperoxydase (PAP) complexes for some special monoclonal antibodies confirmed the diagnosis. Chemotherapy of both cases was mal tolerated and was discussed in details.

[Stomach perforation: an unusual complication of gastric bezoars]. / La perforation de l'estomac: une complication rare du bézoard gastrique.

Bezoars are concretions of stagnant swallowed material in digestive tract. The most frequent are trichobezoars made of hair and phytobezoars composed of undigestible fruits and vegetables fibers. We report a case of a 24-year-old female patient who presented in emergency with an acute peritonitis due to a gastric perforation on bezoars. Gastrotomy, extraction of bezoars, gastric stitching and peritoneal lavage were performed. Post operative period was uneventful. A new careful interrogation into the patient's previous habits found glue-eating custom during the four last years.

[Prognostic study of liver abscess]. / Etude pronostique des abcès du foie.

The objective of this work is to study factors of prognostic of mortality of abscesses of the liver. We have treated between 1990 and 2000 in our service, 38 patient for abscess of the liver. The symptoms are dominated by the pain of the right hypochondria (37 cases) and the fever (34 cases). An unique abscess has been recovered in 25 cases. Some multiple localizations have been observed in 12 cases. 21 patients have been operated. The bacteriological study at all patients revealed the presence of germ in 27 cases. In 6 cases, there were two germs. It was a bacillus negative gram in 26 cases and a cocci positive gram in 7 cases. Six complications have been observed at the operated patients. In 5 cases, it was a septic shock having leads to the death. After survey univariate and multivariate the only factor of bad prognostic recovered is the septic shock. The aetiology was identified in only 9 cases; it was abscess cholangiotis.

[Small bowel neurofibromatosis in Von Recklinghausen's disease. A rare cause of emergency surgery]. / Les neurofibromes du grele au cours de la maladie de von Recklinghausen. Une cause rare d'urgence chirurgicale.

Two cases of small bowel neurofibromatosis in patients with Von Recklinghausen's disease are reported. Diagnosis of small bowel neurofibromatosis was made on the occasion of a complication for the two cases. We insist on the difficulty of diagnosis as well as in presence or not of complications. Treatment of these most often benign tumours remains surgical based on a segmental small bowel resection.

[Abdomino-pelvic actinomycosis: a case report]. / Actinomycose abdomino-pelvienne: à propos d'un cas.

The actinomycosis is a chronic suppurative granulomatosis disease. It is owed to a bacillus gram positive; actinomycès israelli. The cervical and thoracic localizations are most frequent. The digestive localization represents 20% of cases. It interest very rarely the pelvis and the genital tracts. We bring back the observation of a patient old of 30 years admitted for mass abdominal. To the exam, the patient had a sensibility of the left hypochondriac area and we found a mass of 6 cm of diameter. To the rectal touch, we found a mass in the bag of Douglas. The echography and the computed tomography revealed a collection under the spleen and a pelvic collection. A rectotomy is performed. The bacteriological study isolates actinomycès israelli. The collection under the spleen is drained under radiological control. Actinomycès israelli is also recovered in the pus brought back by the puncture. The patient is treated by Penicillin. The patient had a favourable evolution. No etiology is found at this patient. For this observation, the collection was accessible to a drainage permitting the diagnosis and the treatment of the actinomycosis while avoiding a mutilated surgery.